By Mario Andree
Ceylon FT: Tourist arrivals during the first three months of this year increased 24.8% to 421,501 from 337,719 a year earlier. Arrivals in March reached 133,048 up 17.5% from 113,208 recorded in 2013, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority showed.
India led with 54,154 arrivals up 16.1% from 46,648, followed by United Kingdom 39,035 arrivals up 1.3% from 38,544 and Germany with 32,964 arrivals up 17.3% from 28,105 a year earlier.
Overall tourist arrivals for the three months from North America increased 10.7% to 18,440 from 16,651 with arrivals in March up 4.7% to 6,042 from 5,772, while arrivals from Latin America and the Caribbean increased 44.0% to 1,109 from 770 with arrivals in March up 30.1% to 350 from 269.
Arrivals from Western Europe, still the largest market for Sri Lanka, increased 12.6% to 143,760 from 127,655 with arrivals in March up 4.5% to 44,824 from 42,891, while arrivals from Eastern Europe increased 56.5% to 66,421 from 42,442 with arrivals in March up 49.1% to 18,657 from 12,513.
Sri Lanka managed to achieve last year's tourism target after revising data. According to Central Bank Data earnings from the sector increased 35% to US$ 1.4 billion from 1.03 billion.
The government and the hospitality industry expects more than 1.5 million arrivals to support the ambitious goal of 2.5 million arrivals by 2016 to earn more than US$ 2.75 billion foreign exchange.
According to the industry, tourism arrivals to Sri Lanka needs to grow more than 27% annually to reach the government's expectation.
The Cabinet early this year approved a proposal to conduct a comprehensive tourism promotional campaign. Last year according to information Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau spent nearly Rs 1 billion on campaigns.
www.island.lk
Ceylon FT: Tourist arrivals during the first three months of this year increased 24.8% to 421,501 from 337,719 a year earlier. Arrivals in March reached 133,048 up 17.5% from 113,208 recorded in 2013, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority showed.
India led with 54,154 arrivals up 16.1% from 46,648, followed by United Kingdom 39,035 arrivals up 1.3% from 38,544 and Germany with 32,964 arrivals up 17.3% from 28,105 a year earlier.
Overall tourist arrivals for the three months from North America increased 10.7% to 18,440 from 16,651 with arrivals in March up 4.7% to 6,042 from 5,772, while arrivals from Latin America and the Caribbean increased 44.0% to 1,109 from 770 with arrivals in March up 30.1% to 350 from 269.
Arrivals from Western Europe, still the largest market for Sri Lanka, increased 12.6% to 143,760 from 127,655 with arrivals in March up 4.5% to 44,824 from 42,891, while arrivals from Eastern Europe increased 56.5% to 66,421 from 42,442 with arrivals in March up 49.1% to 18,657 from 12,513.
Arrivals from Africa increased 55.8% to 2,493 from 1,600 with arrivals in March up 61.4% to 873 from 541, while arrivals from the Middle East increased 14.7% to 18,390 from 16,027 with arrivals in March up 18.8% to 6,629 from 5,580.
Arrivals form East Asia, the third largest market, increased 53.0% to 72,639 from 47,461 with arrivals in March up 43.5% to 21,751 from 15,162, while arrivals from South Asia, the second largest market, increased 17.5% to 84,278 from 71,710 with arrivals in March up 15.9% to 29,907 from 25,799.
Arrivals form East Asia, the third largest market, increased 53.0% to 72,639 from 47,461 with arrivals in March up 43.5% to 21,751 from 15,162, while arrivals from South Asia, the second largest market, increased 17.5% to 84,278 from 71,710 with arrivals in March up 15.9% to 29,907 from 25,799.
Arrivals from Australasia increased 4.2% to 13,971 from 13,403; however, arrivals in March fell 14.2% to 4,015 from 4,681.
Sri Lanka managed to achieve last year's tourism target after revising data. According to Central Bank Data earnings from the sector increased 35% to US$ 1.4 billion from 1.03 billion.
The government and the hospitality industry expects more than 1.5 million arrivals to support the ambitious goal of 2.5 million arrivals by 2016 to earn more than US$ 2.75 billion foreign exchange.
According to the industry, tourism arrivals to Sri Lanka needs to grow more than 27% annually to reach the government's expectation.
The Cabinet early this year approved a proposal to conduct a comprehensive tourism promotional campaign. Last year according to information Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau spent nearly Rs 1 billion on campaigns.
www.island.lk
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